Data from the captured Zero showed that the United could match or surpass Zeros in most respects except range without sacrificing pilot armor, self-sealing tanks and fuselage structure. The new F6F Hellcat would compensatefor the extraweight with additional power.
On September 20, 1942, two months after the Zero's capture, Lt. Commander Edie R. Sanders took the Akutan Zero up for its first test flight. He made 24 test flights between September 29 and October 15
The important thing was that knowledge was gained in how to fight the Japanese plane.
In early 1943, it was transferred to Anacostia Naval Air Station for more tests, including a wind tunnel.
--GreGen
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